Hampton Divided On Hiring Consultant

HAMPTON — Members of the Hampton City Council are divided on the wisdom of hiring a consultant to help save Fort Monroe.

Charles A. Wornom and Linda E. McNeeley said they wanted to know how much a consultant would cost and what he could offer the city.

"I think we've got enough facts to speak for ourselves," said Wornom, a 25-year council veteran. "We've always fought this closure on our own. Sometimes you hire a consultant, and the facts would be the same. The consultant would have to show me something I don't already know."

McNeeley, an Eason rival, said, "I want to know exactly who's going to pay for it and what they're supposed to do."

Mayor James L. Eason said Thursday the city is considering hiring a consultant to help compile the technical information needed to refute the arguments of those who favor closing Fort Monroe. He said the consultant should be familiar enough with the base-closing process to wage what may be an uphill struggle in only four or five weeks.

Other council members supported the effort to find a consultant but said they wanted more information about the plan.

"If there's someone out there who's an expert on this, I see no reason not to, if it means saving jobs," said Councilwoman Ruthann N. Kellum.

Vice Mayor T. Melvin Butler said, "I don't know who else to turn to. We need to do everything we can. We need to get it from the political angle, the military angle and any outside angle."

Previous city efforts to save the base were largely grassroots, bumper sticker campaigns.

"I think it's worth the effort," said Councilman Turner M. Spencer. "It would be a good idea to get someone to put all this together."